Lasallian Roll Call - May 2020

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LASALLIAN

ROLL CALL

A PUBLICATION FOR THE DE LA SALLE COLLEGE COMMUNITY | ISSUE 48 | MAY 2020

CONTENTS

LETTER TO EDITOR

Letter to Editor

2

From the Editor

2

From the Principal

3

Warm welcome to new students

4

College Leaders for 2020

4

Outstanding VCE results

5

Outside their Comfort Zone

6

Tower Building gets a new lease of life

6

Splash and Dash is back

7

Bomana Bound

8

Experiencing the Arts and Culture of Italy

9

College premieres new play

10

Wes Agar - 2020 Bradman Young Cricketer

11

Australia Day Honours

12

The Brexit effect

13

Geoffrey Tozer ‘musical genius’

14

The best English-language writer alive today?

17

Music can be a good doctor

20

Hope flies high

21

Having a Ball

22

De La Salle Mothers for Social Justice

23

Old Collegians’ Association

23

From the Archives

24

A 70 year friendship

24

Old Collegians’ Amateur Football Club

25

Where Are They Now?

26

2020 College Reunions

27

Rest In Peace

27

Dear Editor, My years at De La Salle and education by the Brothers, commenced in 1944 at St Joseph’s Boys School. I was Dux of that school in 1949.

I then moved to the College next door to further my education. The rules there were strict compared to the Primary. A school rule was no extracurricular work for the students. I delivered newspapers morning and afternoon. The school overlooked my jobs, as I delivered the papers to St Benedict’s Hospital (now Cabrini), which was managed by the nuns.

We students were a bit fearful of the Brothers, but generally respected them, as they had a hard job to do, and some of the boys were a handful and had to be kept in line. Br Peter was the Principal, and Br Stanislaus was my main class teacher. Great men.

I studied Proficiency and Intermediate, and left in 1951. I was in the cadets at school, and served my National Service in the RAAF at Point Cook in 1954.

My work life consisted of 50 years on the Melbourne waterfront. As a Tally Clerk, I worked on many ships, both big Passenger Liners, and cargo only vessels, acting as a rep for the various shipping companies.

I progressed to become a Head Clerk, and was in charge of all aspects of discharging and loading of various cargoes. I moved to the new form of shipping, containerisation, in 1976. This was with the Blue Star Line. I spent the last 10 years with P&0, retiring in 2001.

In retirement, I spend a lot of time reading, especially World War 1 books. I have been to the Western Front twice. The computer keeps me busy, usually researching family history.

COVER 2020 College Captain Andrew McGaw and College Vice-Captain Aaron May.

I have many great memories of school days. I am still in close touch with a few of the old classmates, but sadly, many have passed on. Now living in Mornington, I have been married to Robyn for 57 years, and have grand and great grandchildren.

The College has certainly changed a lot from my days, but it’s great to see it thriving and still a very prestigious institution.

EDITOR Kerry Martin

Keep up the good work with Roll Call. I look forward to every issue.

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY James McPherson

Ken Bowman (1951) Mornington

ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY Peter Pearse, James McPherson

FROM THE EDITOR

PRODUCTION DESIGN Mauro Cecchin PRODUCTION De La Salle Marketing 2 | DE LA SALLE COLLEGE

Welcome to the May issue of Lasallian Roll Call. This issue is significant in that it includes two feature length profiles about two of our most prominent alumnus. continues page 27.

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

From the Principal Dear Old Collegians, Welcome to this latest edition of Roll Call; I’m sure you will enjoy the terrific range of articles provided covering Old Collegians from many eras. As I write, the world is engulfed by the COVID-19 and the College is closed to protect our students and staff – literally unprecedented times. Staff are preparing to deliver remote learning should we remain closed next term.

This will be a challenge for all schools but we are realistic, well-prepared and working hard to make sure this interruption to our students is handled as well as possible.

This year we have adopted the Lasallian Core Principle of Respect as the College Theme for 2020. We have utilised this to shape staff and student leadership and related issues.

At the very centre of strong, effective and successful leadership is a high level of respect – and as our Lasallian Guiding Principle says – Respect for all persons.

I think all of us are well aware of the recent controversy surrounding Catholic boys’ schools. While I have no intention of commenting on other schools’ affairs, the situation does throw into a very stark light a range of themes and issues for contemporary boys’ education and Catholic schools in general.

This is where the critical importance of leadership comes to the fore.

Leadership from staff and students, which is built on respect, generates respect and enhances our Lasallian culture of respect Boys’ schools are very much in public eye, Catholic schools probably more so. The good news for our College is that our students largely represent themselves, their family and their school very well in the public domain and understand the importance of that. I feel very strongly about this – I’m proud to be their Principal and it’s important I acknowledge and thank them for the positive manner in which they conduct yourselves.

In the early weeks of this term, I received five positive messages

from the public in relation to terrific behaviour and good deeds on public transport and in the street. They have set a high standard and of course we expect each of our young men to be aware of their responsibilities in this area – be respectful and do what they know is the right thing.

an issue and deal with it appropriately.

I have reminded every De La Salle student our policies and processes are strong, up to date and reliable.

They know, in 2020 it’s safe and right to report any concerns to a trusted staff member to be then addressed with respect and confidence.

College staff are emphasising with the students what it means to be a quality young man in contemporary times. The key is that each of them must show leadership in this area and it is one of the challenges facing not just the students today but for all our young men.

Most schools deliver a well-rounded education but at at De La Salle College, the tradition we are most proud of is the generations of quality young men we develop and send out into the world, ready to act respectfully and responsibly and make a positive difference.

This 2020 College Theme of Respect must be translated into practice, to mean respect for all in the community.

Students and staff are emphasising respect for our peers - all of them because they all deserve it - Respect for teachers and families and Respect for the traditions and values of our College.

Peter Houlihan Principal

It is through respect we can help address the critically important society issue of respect for women and gender equity, and it is through respect we increase our understanding of - and reject misogyny and associated behaviours.

Another issue to come out of the news this year is a school’s obligation to support any student who reports LASALLIAN ROLL CALL MAY 2020 | 3

WARM WELCOME FOR NEW STUDENTS / COLLEGE LEADERS FOR 2020

Warm welcome to new students New students in Years 5 and 7 received a warm welcome at this year’s Welcome and Opening Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral. Fr John Sherman OMI officiated the Mass before a capacity packed Cathedral of students, families and staff. It was heartening to observe the invitation of our three College Captains as they joined Fr Sherman, deliver the homily and give witness to the words of the College Leaders of 2020. We also welcomed the presence of De La Salle Brothers, Br Peter Smyth FSC

and Br Michael Carroll FSC. At the conclusion of the Mass, each new student was presented with a special gift and students in Year 7 were issued with a commemorative College badge. Another important part of the Mass was the acknowledgement of the 2020 Student Leadership Group.

The Opening and Welcome Mass is an important annual event on the College Calendar bringing families and students together to celebrate and is a true central to whom we are as a Catholic and Lasallian Community.

College Leaders for 2020 The College community and invited guests attended the 2020 College Investiture in February to welcome the new Student Leadership Group, which this year comprises 43 students, across three campuses and four Houses.

2020 College Captain, Andrew McGaw, College Captain 2020,

in his first address to the College community, spoke to the 1,300 strong audience about the College’s positive culture. “We must maintain a positive culture, a culture that supports all those amongst it, a culture that welcomes and adopts, a culture that is not a group of people, but more like a family, a family united by the blue and gold, McGaw said. “Only with this sense of family will we be able to achieve things that we have previously

thought unimaginable.

This brotherhood is alive and well within the College, but it is the responsibility of all of us who don the blue and gold to embrace these family values and promote them to ensure its presence lives on after we have left the College behind.”

Deputy Principal Students, Jessica Alger said the focus for this year’s student leadership group would be respect, camaraderie, integrity, initiative and unity.

“Our College leaders play an integral role in setting the tone for the entire student community. They show respect through their actions and model the values of our Founder, St John Baptist de La Salle.”

Andrew is supported by College Vice-Captains, Aaron May and Oliver O’Brien.

4 | DE LA SALLE COLLEGE

Outstanding VCE results Our 2019 VCE results are the best in a decade, with a continued increase in the number of students attaining a Study Score above 40.

• The Median ATAR is 72.35. This fractionally, is below, the high water mark of 73.15 set last year, but continues the excellent progression from 67.60 in 2017 and 64.18 in 2016.

• The Median Study Score for 2019 was 31, comfortably above the State median of 30.

The Principal, Peter Houlihan congratulated students and teachers for the positive result. “The overall improvement in 2019 is testament to the targeted approach and diligent attention to detail evident among the students and the positive relationships our teachers enjoy with our young men,” Mr Houlihan said. “As ever, the organised and intrinsically motivated performed at the highest standard.”

• The best ever achievement in relation to students attaining ATARs in the 90s. (13.9% of the cohort attained an ATAR of 90 or above, representing an improvement in 2019 of almost 3%).

• The percentage of students with ATARs in the 70 – 99.96 range was 54%.

• The percentage of Study Scores 40 and above is 7.85% – our best ever – and up from 7.22% last year, 6.43% in 2017 and 5.3% in 2016.

“The most able and diligent are to be congratulated but perhaps even more so of those with lesser gifts who strove for personal success and maximised their results through sheer devotion to the task.”

who achieved an outstanding ATAR of 98.55. His extraordinary results in six diverse and very challenging Unit 3 & 4 Studies are the result of a disciplined, organised approach, a dedication to maximising his potential and a willingness to work closely with teachers and peers. Amedeo has also made a tremendous contribution to the wider life of the College as Vice-Captain and his significant involvement in the music program.

He is an excellent role model for his peers.”

Congratulations again to all our Year 12 students and teachers on this tremendous achievement for our 2019 VCE results.

“Congratulations to our 2019 College Dux, Amedeo Perri (pictured right),

Top Achievers (ATARs over 90): Standing (left to right): Nathan Barrow, Anthony Ryan, Joel Thompson, James Giullani, Dominic Gehrig, Timothy Loughnan, Jing Nao Ng, Sean Butler, Joel May. Seated (left to right): Jack Barnard, Manuel Gashi, Luke Bonso, Patrick Walsh, Principal Houlihan, Amedeo Perri (Dux), Byron Gelagin, Remus Care Parsi, Travis Gaughan. Not present: Curtis Sayers. Samuel Russ.

LASALLIAN ROLL CALL MAY 2020 | 5

OUTSIDE THEIR COMFORT ZONE & TOWER BUILDING GETS A NEW LEASE OF LIFE

Outside their Comfort Zone Since the Duke of Edinburgh Awards were launched in 1956, more than eight million young people from 130 countries have participated. Last year saw 160 Year 9 students participate – the first time a whole year level from the College had done so.

The week-long program saw students involved in a range of outdoor activities in Anglesea and the Mornington Peninsula. Students were required to meet challenges across three areas; Physical Recreation, Skill, Service and Adventurous Journey. Program organiser, Mr Ryan McDonough said the objective was for students to try things outside the

comfort zone. “The program helps build resilience as well as practical skills aimed to improve career and social outcomes in the future.”

“For the Adventurous Journey challenge, students embarked on a 40 kilometre trek over two days, including an overnight camp, cooking with Trangias and setting up their own tents.”

“The Program is an important part of the new Year 9 program at Holy Eucharist Campus which aims to provide students with experiences outside the comfort of the classroom.”

“For the Service challenge students completed their Lasallian Service across the community sector.

Students volunteered for a week in aged care, childcare and various charity works in the community. It was great to see students developing their social skills in settings outside their comfort zone. This certainly helped develop their maturity throughout the year.”

by Kerry Martin

Tower Building gets a new lease of life The newly refurbished interior of the building, which is now home to the Year 8 cohort, is a far cry from the blackboards and platforms of the past.

The Principal of the College, Mr Peter Houlihan, said the Tower was ready for a new lease of life. “It has remained pretty much unchanged for nearly a century so it was ready for an upgrade. “The old fashioned platforms have gone and the interior spaces reflect contemporary learning,” Mr Houlihan said.

The College’s iconic Tower Building has had a $450,000 facelift to update and upgrade its teaching and learning facilities. The refurbishment of the Tower Building, which opened in 1929, includes the creation of new open learning and teaching spaces, new audio visual and ICT equipment, new carpets, whiteboards, lighting and furniture.

6 | DE LA SALLE COLLEGE

“Throughout its proud history, the Tower has seen thousands of students pass through its doors but the time had come to give it a new lease of life and bring it into the 21st century,” Mr Houlihan said.

The opening of the new Tower Building in 1929 marked a momentous year for the College. The College moved from its first school building in Stanhope Street West, to its new location, now known as the Tiverton Campus. The new Tower building saw the College grow in size and public profile.

A feature of the new-look Tower is the refurbishment of the “church” door entrance, which faces the Dalny

St side of the building, with its impressive terrazzo Lasallian Star.

This entrance would have originally been the front of the school where the Principal’s office was located.

“The terrazzo Star was refurbished by stone specialists from Stone Restoration Australia who filled cracks and cut and polished the stone, bringing it back to life.

“The Tower is one of Malvern’s historically significant buildings and we are proud that we have been able to retain its heritage, while turning it into a contemporary learning space.”

by Kerry Martin

SPLASH AND DASH IS BACK

Splash and Dash is back The newly resurrected Splash and Dash swim event was held at the Carnegie Swim Centre in February. Nine Old Collegians took the plunge in the 50-metre freestyle event, with former College swim champion, Matthew Northage (2012), taking out the much sought-after trophy in 28.41 seconds.

Former College swim co-captain and current College Swim Squad assistant coach, Angus McLean (2018), believes resurrecting the swim race was a great way to connect the College’s swim squad with some of the its former champion swimmers.

“The new reincarnation of the Race, which in the past was a regular event on the College Calendar, took place at the end of the College swim trials so lots of current students had the opportunity to see the race and feel part of a larger community,” McLean said.

“There was a great atmosphere on the night with lots of excitement around the pool as the Old Colls fought it out during the heats leading up the final Dash,” he said.

“It was great for the students to see the Old Collegians still hungry for first place.”

“The competition was very close with swimmers separated by as little as a 10th of a second.”

“It was also fantastic meeting Old Collegians who all shared a passion for the pool.”

“The race was a great opportunity to reconnect with some of my older peers who were in the College swim team at the same time as me,” he said.

“I remember as a timid Year 7 student joining the Swim Team for the first time, these guys were my heroes.”

McLean, who is currently at Monash University studying a double degree in Design and Business, also coaches at Loreto and Ashburton Pool.

Back (left to right): Sean O’Callaghan (2016), Killian Cheah (1982), Darren O’Loughlin (1977), Matt O’Callaghan (1986), Nick Brasher (1977), Peter Stewart (1973).

Front (left to right): Phil Green (1983), Matt Northage (2012), Angus McLean (2018)

McLean and Co-captain Ben Richter (2018) led the College ACC Swim Squad to victory in 2018 and in the following year McLean was assistant coach of the Squad when they took out the ACC pennant for the second year in a row.

McLean said while some of the Dash participants still swim regularly, however a couple of the guys were putting the bathers on for the first time in a while.

One of those to getting back in the pool was Matthew O’Callaghan (1986) who with his son Sean (2016), also competed in the Dash.

O’Callaghan said the Race was always a big event on the College Calendar when he was a student.

“I recall the race back in the 1980s, it was very competitive with blokes such as former College Captain, Garry Connolly (1977) competing for the trophy,” he said.

“I swam for the College from 1978 to 1986 and have lots of great memories of great characters.”

O’Callaghan, who also the President of the De La Salle Old Collegians Amateur Football Club, said that after all these years it was firs-time he was a competitor in the Dash.

“It was great to catch up with some of the old boys like Phil Greene (1983), who was the Swimming Captain when I was a very young bloke. I was disappointed my son Sean broke the starter’s gun to miss out on claiming family honours.”

McLean said it is hoped that the Dash, which was last held in the 1980s, will be a recurring event for next year and many years to come.

by Kerry Martin

LASALLIAN ROLL CALL MAY 2020 | 7

BOMANA BOUND

Bomana Bound As many members of our College community know, last year the “Yaluwo” Immersion to Sri Lanka was postponed due to the sad and unfortunate Easter Bombings. Given the security warnings from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Immersion to Sri Lanka was put on hold for 2019.

However, as an alternative, the College was fortunate enough through contact with the De La Salle Brothers in Papua New Guinea, to establish an alternative arrangement for the 2019 Year 12 group to travel to De La Salle Secondary School, in Bomana, Papua New Guinea.

The Deputy Principal Faith and Mission, Ms Rana Brogan, who was one of four staff who accompanied the students said it was wonderful to travel to with a group of 16 students who were committed to making a difference to the community.

“Travelling with a large group of students and staff with their hearts in

8 | DE LA SALLE COLLEGE

the right place is always profound. If there is one thing to take away from such an experience it is that whilst we can’t always do everything, we can do something, and we can do it well,” Ms Brogan said.

“The group worked tirelessly day in and day out rebuilding the old Chapel on the school grounds. A complete team effort support by four local Papua New Guinean tradesmen that

supported us on site each day.”

“The people of Papua New Guinea, and especially the community at Bomana, must be thanked for their warmth, hospitality and generosity of spirit. St John Baptist de La Salle reminds us to “often ask God for the Grace to touch hearts,” but it was us who left with our hearts touched and spirits moved by the staff and students at De La Salle, Bomana.“

EXPERIENCING THE ARTS AND CULTURE OF ITALY

Experiencing the Arts and Culture of Italy What better way to enhance your appreciation of all things Italian, than spending two weeks visiting Italy’s magnificent art galleries, learning to cook authentic local cuisine and taking classes in an Italian school. The recent Language and Art Culture Tour of Italy saw Year 9, 10 and 11 students immersed in a 17 day tour to Rome, Florence, Orvieto, Pisa and Venice.

One of the Tour Leaders, Mrs Lillian Russo said it was an enriching experience for the group.

“The trip was an enriching experience for the students who experienced so many amazing places.”

“A highlight for the group was an Italian cooking class, where they

learnt to make homemade pasta – and eat it.”

“The students returned a little bit wiser and more mature, learning how to get along with people from other cultures taught them patience and respect. It also made them more socially aware.”

“It was interesting to see how they picked up on local customs such as dress codes. They started dressing up for dinner in the evenings which was a nice touch.”

The Group visited the Uffizzi Gallery, St Mark’s Basilica, the National Pavilions at the Venice Biennale, the Galleria dell’Accademia, the Duomo and the Orvieto Underground.

The students also attended classes at the Istituto Dante Alighieri where they were encouraged to speak only in Italian.

Mrs Russo said the students were a credit to the College. “During the Tour the students were praised for their, enthusiasm, engagement and respect for local customs.”

by Kerry Martin

LASALLIAN ROLL CALL MAY 2020 | 9

COLLEGE PREMIERES NEW PLAY

College premieres new play intriguing. I did some research – by book, encyclopaedia – because this was pre-Internet and found out she was real,” Murrell said. “I asked Melchoir to write the book/script and we did a first draft, had a reading of it with actors, did a second draft and then had another reading.”

“By this time, it was early 90s, and our families took priority, so the play went on to the back burner.”

“When I first arrived at De La Salle in 2007, I came across Sibelius, a music writing software so James and I got going again and 10 years later, voila!”

“Mary is a bit of a villain but unlike the famous villains like Sweeney Todd there is not much known about her.”

Over the years Roll Call has published numerous stories on the College’s vibrant performing arts scene and for the last decade, the College Drama Coordinator, Andrew Murrell has been the man behind the scenes making it happen. This year, for the first time, the College will be staging an original work co-written by Murrell. This is a marvellous opportunity for students to engage with a director who has produced the work.

Murrell’s play Typhoid Mary, which will premiere later in the year, was inspired by a book called The Ballad of Typhoid Mary. The play, with music and lyrics by Murrell and script by James Melchior, tells the story of a young woman who emigrated from Ireland to New York around the year 1900. She was a cook by profession and prepared wonderful meals for 10 | DE LA SALLE COLLEGE

wealthy families in the better suburbs of New York. Unfortunately, many members of those families fell ill with Typhoid and some of them died.

Eventually it was revealed that Mary was a carrier and she was arrested but survived incarceration, by promising never to cook again.

Murrell, who has headed the College’s Drama Learning Area for the past eleven years, is himself an accomplished actor and musician.

He made his first appearance on the stage at La Mama in Carlton in 1987, followed by a busy theatre schedule until the late 90s. At the same time he has made numerous television appearances in Neighbours, Blue Heelers and a substantial body of work for well-known advertising campaigns.

Murrell’s inspiration for the play was sparked almost 40 years ago. “I came across a book called ‘The Ballad of Typhoid Mary’ in 1988 which I found

“Mary was a determined woman and her attitudes towards the authorities and the public at large reveal much about this nature. The play explores so many themes; power, free will, isolation, contagion, media vilification and the belief in science.”

“All are very relevant today as they were in her time and when we started writing 30 years ago in the time of AIDS.” “And is she really a villain? Did she mean it? Or was she just a person trying her best to survive?”

Murrell said the students had really engaged with the production. “This group of students are amazing, so talented, switched on and perceptive.

Our leads are growing in their characterisation and understanding with every rehearsal and the singing and dancing is wonderful.”

“I am really looking forward to getting it on stage, finally and I really hope everyone can come and see this piece. It will be as close to a professional standard as we can manage.”

by Kerry Martin

WES AGAR NAMED BRADMAN YOUNG CRICKETER OF THE YEAR

Wes Agar - 2020 Bradman Young Cricketer Fast bowler Wes Agar (2014) was named the 2020 Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year at the Australian Cricket Awards in February. Agar’s outstanding fast bowling talent places him in a prestigious roll of honour, including Brett Lee and David Warner, as the nation’s best young male cricketer. Agar spoke to Roll Call from Adelaide where he is now based.

“To be honest I was a little bit surprised when I found out I had won the Award. I was in Brisbane at the time and I get a call from the Players Association to let me know I had won.

I was so excited - my first reaction was to get off the phone so I could call mum and dad.”

“The Awards night was a who’s who of cricket. I took my girlfriend, Emma, it was an amazing evening.”

“It’s actually been a bit of a whirlwind of a year.” And so it should be, his impressive fast-paced bowling has unsettled some of the best domestic batsmen in the country.

Agar said the Award secured him a place at a level of cricket which he had worked hard to achieve. “Winning the award was a bit of a relief, as it meant I could relax in the knowledge that I had secured a position at the level I was at.”

Agar’s rise to fame has not come without its disappointments. He left his home in Melbourne in 2015 to try out with the Redbacks, but two

years later with only four one day games under his belt he was back in Melbourne, having failed to earn consistent selection in South Australia and Victoria.

He admits he was a bit over weight and unfit, but sheer determination solved that, and his return to South Australia has been nothing short of stellar. Now in peak physical condition, he is regarded as one of the best fastbowling prospects in the country.

Agar made his Big Bash debut with the Adelaide Strikers in BBL|06 and famously went head-to-head with older brother Ashton (2011) against the Scorchers in his second season.

Agar has grown up a lot since a student at the College. He is confident, determined and totally focused on achieving his childhood dream of playing for Australia.

At the tender age of 23, Agar says he is motivated by his dream to make it to the highest level of cricket.

“It was my dream as a kid to make it at the highest level. I always dreamt to play cricket for Australia and that’s what motivates me.”

“I’ve got so much to achieve and every day I wake up and I want to be a better player and a better person.”

Luckily for Agar his senior cricket career has been injury-free. “I’ve had no real injuries which is very lucky for me. I had lots of injuries when I was young and that taught me how to ride the lows as well as the highs.”

It seems a bit premature asking a 23 year old about career highlights, but Agar doesn’t draw breath, he has a long list but the most significant is his first class cricket debut. “A career highlight would be making my first class debut for South Australia last year.”

He says that De La Salle taught him how to be a good person off the field.

“You have to have good relationships and De La Salle taught me how to be

respectful and give to others and that has humbled me and allowed me to build great relationships off the field.”

Living in Adelaide, Agar doesn’t get to see his family as much as he would like, although he sees Ashton regularly on the cricket pitch. “I don’t get to see my family often, but now I am playing against Ashton, it is great that I get to see him a lot.”

The two share a healthy level of competitiveness. “I’ve got him out twice or three times and he always had my number, but now I am finally getting him back.”

I remember when we would play backyard cricket we dreamed of making it to the top. “We believed we were good enough to get there and now years later our dreams are coming true, for both of us.”

Given Agar’s positive outlook and sheer determination there is no doubt he will go far. In the short term he hopes to stay in Adelaide. “Hopefully I can get my contract extended with South Australia, I then plan to do a bit of travelling with my girlfriend.”

The Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year is awarded to the leading player who is under the age of 24 and who has not played more than 10 first-class matches before the voting period began.

by Kerry Martin LASALLIAN ROLL CALL MAY 2020 | 11

AUSTRALIA DAY HONOURS

Australia Day Honours Two Old Collegians were recognised in this year’s Australia Day Honours. Vianney Shiel AM (1964) was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for his significant service to electronic engineering and education and Paul Stewart OAM (1979) was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the community and to the performing arts.

Shiel spent 45 years in academia, first at RMIT followed by the AEDC (Australian Electronics Development Centre) and then at La Trobe University, where his expertise led to many new initiatives. His innovative streak emerged as a student at the College, where he and another student made a Demonstration Cathode Ray Oscilloscope for the Physics Lab. It was on the Physics syllabus at that time. The unit ended up having a provisional patent on it.

Vianney Shiel has distinguished himself in the field of electronic engineering and education. A leader in his profession, his recognition in the recent Australia Day Awards was well deserved. Shiel said he was honoured by the award.

“It means “a hell of a lot” to receive an AM”, he said. “As an engineer and educator it means that all those hours preparing lectures, developing courses, learning new things, stretching the mind outside the box and being away from my family are valued.”

Fast forward several years, and as a final year Communications Engineering student, Shiel was a trail blazer in community television.

“I was asked by the University to help oversee, what is now the Channel 31 Studio, during their first test broadcasts. “I was in charge of the studio during the week-long live transmissions test of broadcasts, it was very exciting.”

“I am most proud of knowing that a lot of my past students have actually learnt a lot of practical things from my lectures which has helped then to get good employment. I am proud to have represented Australia in many situations around the world and I am very proud to have been able to help Australian and New Zealand companies involved in electronics embrace the SMT (Surface Mount Technology) revolution of the 80s and 90s in electronic design and manufacture.”

In 1989, Shiel was seconded from RMIT to the AEDC as one of the founding staff members. Working for the AEDC, he travelled extensively learning from industry leaders and developing training programs here in Australia and around the world.

Alongside his academic career, Shiel established Airtronic Circuits Pty Ltd in 1969, which provides company specific training and expert consulting in all areas of electronics design and manufacture as well as low volume electronic design and manufacture.

by Kerry Martin

Paul Stewart Honoured Paul Stewart OAM (1979) was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the community and to the performing arts.

Stewart is a committed advocate for social justice and runs the ‘Just Voices’ program for Jesuit Social Services. A forming member and front man of the legendary Melbourne band, The Painters and Dockers, Stewart has been a formidable presence in the performing arts scene in Australia for more than 30 years.

Stewart has been a long time campaigner for East Timor, following the tragic death of his older brother. Anthony (Tony) Stewart (1971) was a 21-year-old sound recordist on assignment in East Timor when he was gunned down by Indonesian forces, along with four other newsmen in 1975, known since as the Balibo Five.

Stewart travels regularly to East Timor where he works closely with the Alma Nuns, who are in Australia this month. Stewart and the nuns visited the College to talk to students about the disabled and abandoned children they work with in East Timor. Alongside his numerous other charitable roles, Stewart is a founding member of the Mirabel Foundation and The Transplants, a band made up of organ recipients who promote the work of Donate Australia.

Shiel with Br Calixtus 12 | DE LA SALLE COLLEGE

THE BREXIT EFFECT

The Brexit effect As a Governance Advisor for the UK Department of International Development, Matthew Clancy (2001) is well aware of the impact Brexit is having on the world, especially in the developing world, where Clancy works on the UK’s foreign aid program.

“Brexit is affecting nearly every aspect of life in Britain and my work, and the work of the Department, are no exception,” Clancy said. “As the whole of the UK government gears up to respond to Brexit, many of my team members were transferred to other government teams to prepare for ‘no deal’ scenarios.”

“We’ve been preparing for what long-standing aid relationships with developing countries will look like now that the UK has left the European Union.”

“Working in a ‘Governance Adviser’ role in the Department does not come without its ironies. “Many people have pointed out the irony of the UK government advising others on ‘governance’ issues at a time like this!”

Clancy’s career in international aid started when he joined the UN in Bangladesh in 2008. Since then he has worked for the United Nations, the International Red Cross, and international charities in Bangladesh, Lebanon, Nepal and Sudan. He completed his Masters in Middle Eastern Studies at the ANU in Canberra.”

“At the moment, I work in the education team for the UK government’s Department for International Development, also known as UK Aid. The Department is responsible for the delivery of humanitarian and development aid in over 40 countries across sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Middle East. My team works to support teachers, schools, local communities and ministries of education in around 28 countries to improve children’s access to quality education. “

The work is hectic and no two days are the same. “Working with countries around the world, a typical day for me generally involves copious phone calls and video conferences with partners and colleagues based in our offices in developing countries.”

“It’s fast-paced work that involves a lot of analysis, advice, and negotiation with everyone, from government ministers, to UN officials, or teachers and principals. A typical day will often involve shifting from advising teams in Bangladesh who are setting up classrooms for the Rohingya refugees, to talking to ministry officials from the Ghanaian government about options for school inspections, to briefing my UK minister in preparation for questions in the House of Commons.”

In 2015, Clancy was in Nepal when the earthquake struck the Kathmandu Valley. “I had just arrived in Nepal to start a new role with the UK government. Just four days later – as I was coming back from the ANZAC Day memorial at the Australian Embassy – Nepal experienced its largest earthquake in over 70 years, which tragically killed almost 9,000 people.”

“Those first few minutes during the quake, were the most terrifying of my life, however over the next few of weeks and months I felt privileged to work alongside the Nepalese and people from around the world rolling out a critical emergency response and humanitarian recovery work.”

While at the College Clancy, explored a range of extracurricular pastimes.

“I was very involved in the preforming arts and loved singing in the choir.”

Matthew Clancy

Music is still an important part of Clancy’s life and as well performing in pubs in Melbourne, he has been known to perform in restaurants and house parties in Bangladesh, and rooftops and festivals in Lebanon and Sudan.

“I feel very strongly that my time at De La Salle taught me the importance of service to others, which I think takes many different forms. I see it in guys from my year, and others who I am still in touch with, who are volunteering at local sports clubs, taking a stand against prejudice or inequality in Australian society, working in the arts or business, or really just working on being really great dads.”

“My memory of the guys from my year was of a bunch of young men who were funny, strong, passionate and unpretentiously kind to others in the world around them. The College played a large part in teaching us these qualities.”

by Kerry Martin

LASALLIAN ROLL CALL MAY 2020 | 13

GEOFFREY TOZER ‘MUSICAL GENIUS’

Geoffrey Tozer ‘musical genius’ Late last year, The Eulogy, the story of Australia’s ‘most accomplished pianist,’ Geoffrey Tozer (1971) opened in cinemas around Australia. The film, directed by Janine Hosking, was inspired by a panegyric eulogy delivered by former, Prime Minister, Paul Keating, at Tozer’s funeral at St Patrick’s Cathedral in 2009.

14 | DE LA SALLE COLLEGE

Geoffrey Tozer attended the College until the end of Year 9, when he left for London to take up a Churchill Fellowship to study music. At the time he was the youngest person ever to be awarded the prestigious award. As a tribute to Tozer’s musical legacy, the following extract is an extract of Keating’s eulogy.

“Geoffrey Tozer’s death is a national tragedy. For the Australian arts and Australian music, losing Tozer is like Canada having lost Glenn Gould or France, Ginette Neveu. It is a massive cultural loss. The kind of loss people felt when Germany lost Dresden.

In fact, if you think of our greatest artists, those who are so regarded in world terms, three come to mind: Nellie Melba, Percy Grainger and Joan Sutherland.

In terms of musical comprehension, intellectualism and facility, Geoffrey’s talent was simply off the scale.

Geoffrey made his international musical debut at the age of fifteen, playing Mozart’s Concerto No. 15 with the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Sir Colin Davis at the Royal Albert Hall.

Born in the foothills of the Himalayas, Geoffrey’s infant years were filled with music. His earliest memory of the piano was when, as a three-yearold, he began to play Beethoven’s Appassionata Sonata, music he had

just heard his mother teaching to a pupil.

When Tozer’s mother Veronica Tozer, realised that her son was possessed of vast musical ability, in 1958 she relocated with her two sons to Melbourne.

It was here, in Melbourne, that the world first discovered the young boy who was quickly dubbed a ‘musical genius’ by Australia’s foremost musicians. Within five years of his arrival in Australia, Geoffrey’s life as a professional musician began in earnest. This was an extraordinary period of his life, one during which he began to receive the patronage and recognition that would enable him to develop the full range of his virtuosic abilities, and become a concert pianist of the highest standard.

In 1963 when Geoffrey was eight, Dr Clive Douglas auditioned him for a concerto performance for ABC television. The performance, with

Geoffrey playing Bach’s Concerto in F Minor was filmed in February 1964 with Dr Douglas conducting the Victorian Symphony Orchestra.

Later the same year he gave at least eight more performances, playing concertos of Bach and Mozart with the orchestra in Melbourne and Ballarat. The phrase ‘musical genius’ was applied to him right from the beginning.

How was Australia to develop such a rare and prodigious talent, one that was already nationally recognised?

The solution came when the committee of the Churchill Fellowship decided to lower the minimum age by five years and award Geoffrey a Churchill, extending it to two years instead of the usual one. Four years later the committee awarded Geoffrey a second Churchill as he began to make the difficult and, for many gifted teenagers, usually impossible transition from child prodigy to fully mature artist.

LASALLIAN ROLL CALL MAY 2020 | 15

GEOFFREY TOZER ‘MUSICAL GENIUS’

In 1969, the first of Geoffrey’s Churchill Fellowships enabled him to travel to England. That year he entered the Leeds Piano Competition and became the youngest semi-finalist. The same year he won the prestigious Alex de Vries Prize, making his debut with the English Chamber Orchestra soon afterwards. In May 1970, he won First Prize out of 157 contestants in the Royal Overseas League competition and was presented to the Queen.

Geoffrey loved Australia and believed that the time had come when an Australian of international standing could build and sustain an international career from here. This involved substantial costs and, while he could generate a living from his touring engagements, once he had covered the costs, there was very little left. So it was then that he accepted a job at St Edmund’s College, Canberra to help him pay the rent.

In 1971 Geoffrey returned to Australia to begin the next phase of his career; the difficult years of transition when the musical world had to decide whether he was just another prodigy, albeit one of seemingly superhuman ability, or whether, like Mozart, he was in fact a great musician whose artistry would continue to develop and improve as he gained maturity.

It was owing to his decision to work at St Edmund’s that I first heard Geoffrey play. The playing was breathtaking.

When the formalities ended I made my way over to him to inquire of his playing and career. It was then that I understood the under-realisation

In 1977, Geoffrey won the first of his two Rubenstein medals, being awarded the prize personally by Arthur Rubenstein who described him as ‘an extraordinary pianist’.

During the 1980s he began his commercial recording career. In 1986 he made his first commercial recording, the John Ireland Piano Concerto in E Flat with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, a recording that is still ranked by most critics as the best recording available of that music.

16 | DE LA SALLE COLLEGE

In Geoffrey’s case it gave him a chance to develop works in parts of the piano repertoire.

So, in 1988, as Treasurer, I made my way down from London to Colchester in the High Commissioner’s car to engage the founder and managing director of Britain’s foremost recording company, Chandos Records.

That person, Mr Brian Couzens, said, ‘why on earth would someone like you be making an appointment with someone like me?’

I said, ‘I have come to introduce to you one of the greatest pianists of world’ and he said, ‘Who is that?’ and I said, ‘The Australian, Geoffrey Tozer’. He said, ‘Yes, I have heard of him but not recently. Has he done anything I can listen to?’ I immediately brought forth a number of audio tapes for his listening. But Couzens said, ‘Audio tapes are often compositions themselves, many artists break down and can’t complete a full work across the dynamic range of the composition’. I said to Couzens, ‘Well, I will get him over here. He will astound you’. Well, Geoffrey did get over there. Couzens rang me to say he was unbelievable.

At least once a year throughout the 1970s he toured Australia playing concertos with all the major orchestras around the country, while frequently travelling to America, Britain and Europe for concert appearances.

The 1980s were halcyon days for Geoffrey. In 1983 he decided to base himself in Canberra. He was briefly on the staff of the Canberra School of Music until it became clear that his national and international touring engagements were as incompatible with such a position as some other aspects of institutional life. By now Geoffrey had become immersed in the music of Liszt. He toured Australia and New Zealand at least twice a year playing concertos and recitals, while constantly expanding his international career.

This was the inspiration for the Australian Artists Creative Fellowships, a Commonwealth-funded program paid to artists at about one-and-ahalf to two times the average weekly earnings and paid for periods of one to five years.

of Geoffrey’s international standing and of his straitened circumstances; earning $9000 a year at St Edmund’s, relying on a bicycle for his transport.

It was Geoffrey’s power and poverty that caused me to realise how little Australia valued artists of accomplishment, especially those in mid-career: in his case, the explosive power of his playing, yet his meagre capacity to afford the basics of life.

This sharp reality caused me to study the circumstances of other Australian artists who, while accomplished, found themselves marooned in mid‑career.

Geoffrey went on to make 36 recordings with Chandos, which for any pianist is a major recorded legacy.

In 2001, Tozer undertook a concert tour of China at the invitation of the Ministry of Culture, playing the Yellow River Concerto to a massive television audience. His last grand tour of Australia in 2004 was a privately promoted one, where he gave over 20 performances around the country, including to a sold-out recital at the Sydney Opera House.”

Paul Keating’s full Eulogy can be found at http://theeulogy.com.au/ tozer-eulogy

THE BEST ENGLISH-LANGUAGE WRITER ALIVE TODAY?

The best Englishlanguage writer alive today?

Gerald Murnane at The Wheeler Centre in September last year.

Photo by Scott Limbrick

The New York Times’, Mark Benelli has described Gerald Murnane (1956) as one of the best English-language writers alive, and with a nomination for a Nobel Prize for Literature, a Patrick White, a Prime Minister and a Victorian Premier’s awards to his name, he is showing no signs of slowing down. Last year, Murnane turned 80 and published his first book of poetry, Green Shadows and Other Poems and a novel, his 14th, A Season on Earth.

The 1956 edition of the College Year Book, Blue and Gold testifies to Murnane’s abilities. He topped his class in every subject, was the Dux of the Matriculation Class, captain of the senior debating team and Vicecaptain of Edwin’s House. His poem Before the Dawn, won the College’s top literary prize revealing the deep seam of gold of this now celebrated writer’s literary imagination.

Melbourne historian Val Noone, (1956) a classmate and friend of Murnane remembers him as a good student with a sense of humour.

LASALLIAN ROLL CALL MAY 2020 | 17

THE BEST ENGLISH-LANGUAGE WRITER ALIVE TODAY?

“He was capable and committed, keen on English literature, an opponent of the prevailing emphasis on sport, and sceptical of the value of maths and sciences,” Noone said.

“Gerald was witty, inclined to be sarcastic, and had a sense of fun.”

“Our last day at school was the day after the Olympic Games had started in Melbourne, and three days after two Afro-American Olympians, Ira Davis and Lee Calhoun, graduates of a De La Salle College in the United States, had visited the College. Things were fairly quiet but Gerald brightened up the atmosphere by running around the school yard with a make-believe Olympic torch.”

At school his nickname was Lou, but Noone can’t remember why.

Courtesy of The Wheeler Centre 18 | DE LA SALLE COLLEGE

“Like most of the class, Gerald was serious about the Catholic faith. In religion class we took it in turns at giving short talks. I made a note in my diary that on one occasion Gerald went for half an hour on human liberty.”

“He and I discussed whether we had vocations to the priesthood or religious life. Gerald was interested in joining a contemplative monastery, and won a prize that year for his poem about Cistercian monks. I went to the diocesan seminary, while Gerald went, for a few months only, to the Passionist Fathers’ seminary. That’s treated at length in his latest novel.”

“As a student, Gerald was an enthusiast for poetry and tried to persuade me to take it up. A couple of months ago, 63 years later, at age

80, after many books of fiction, he published his first book of poems. I have not become a poet but I enjoyed mulling over his,” Noone said.

“I find Gerald’s fictions thoughtprovoking yet puzzling – they concentrate on the images and ideas in his mind, often about colours, horse-racing and the plains of western Victoria, all the while reflecting on his processes of writing and the meaning of life. His criticisms of his unnamed fictional secondary school have been severe,” Noone said.

For the past 10 years Murnane has lived a remote life in the small township of Goroke on the edge of the western plains of Victoria, where he maintains in metal filing cabinets meticulous records of his life. Much has been written of his insular

THE BEST ENGLISH-LANGUAGE WRITER ALIVE TODAY?

existence and reluctance to travel, his dislike of cinema and refusal to learn to use a computer.

His existence could be said to account for the interior and somewhat eccentric characters who inhabit his novels. He speaks Hungarian, plays the violin, enjoys brain teasers, and golf and above all, horse racing, which is a passion inherited from his father Reginald. However he has never travelled out of his home country and rarely leaves Victoria. In Goroke, he helps run the Men’s Shed and pulls beers behind the bar at the Golf Club.

Before devoting his life to his writing he spent 13 years as a public servant, teaching in primary schools and working as an editor in a government office. In 1966, when he was 27 he married Catherine Lancaster, who also worked as a teacher. They settled in the northern suburbs and fortunately for Murnane, his wife supported his decision to quit his day job and take care of their three sons. He received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne in 1969 and lectured in Creative Writing. In 1974 he published his first book, Tamarisk Row and two years later A Lifetime on Clouds. Since then there have been 12 more.

Val Noone is a fellow of the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at the University of Melbourne.

by Kerry Martin

De La Salle College Senior Debating Team 1956 Seated: B. Broderick, G. Murnane, (Captain), Mr Conway, M. Murphy Standing: M. Cleary, B. Parker, R. Meehan, M. Shadbolt, V. Noone.

A Letter from Gerald Murnane Dear Roll Call Editor, I appreciate your interest in me and I believe you must have gone to a great deal of trouble to compose the set of questions that you sent me. I’m a polite person who doesn’t like to disappoint people of goodwill. Rather than address the questions, I’ll send you a few paragraphs that may be of interest to you.

The letter, by the way, is being typed on a Remington Monarch bought in 1965 and used almost daily since the mid-1970s, when I overcame lifelong fear for technology and taught myself to type using the index finger of my right hand to press the keys and the middle finger on my left hand to press the key that brings the upper-case letters into play.

When computers were coming into use, friends of mine would urge me to adapt to them. My friends pointed out how much faster and efficiently I could write with new technology. I used to reply that efficiency were of little interest to me when I wrote. I preferred to compose my sentences at my own pace and in keeping with the rhythms of my thoughts.

Until three years ago, I could not use a mobile phone, but living in a remote district obliged me to change my ways.

I now own a smart phone and I can make use of its basic functions, although I’ve never learned to install any of the mysterious-looking apps arranged in a row on my screen.

When I finally learned how to send text messages, a momentous achievement which took place in mid-2016, I sent a brief, humorous message to each of the two sons of mine who live in Melbourne. They conferred by phone at once and then contacted the police in the district where I live. My sons believed that someone must have broken into my home or assaulted me and stolen my phone. Both agreed it was impossible for their father to have mastered the art of sending text messages.

Many people recall their schooldays with fondness, speak gratefully of the sound education they received, and even single out one or more teachers who inspired them and set them on their way to their future success. I am not one of those people. My five years at De La Salle were by no means the best period of my life, although this was no fault of my teachers, of whom I recall with gratitude, Brs Edward, Colman, Julian and especially Gerard.

Yours sincerely Gerald Murnane (1956) Goroke

LASALLIAN ROLL CALL MAY 2020 | 19

MUSIC CAN BE A GOOD DOCTOR

Music can be a good doctor Music, like a good doctor, can heal and in the case of Joseph Phillipos (2009), music plays an important part of maintaining a healthy work balance as a junior doctor.

The life of a young doctor can be frenetic with so many things to remember and long hours on the job. To maintain a work life balance, Phillipos uses his music to relax.

“Music is really important to me, it helps me relax and maintain a good life balance. I still play guitar and see live music whenever I can. Music was my main passion while at school,” Phillipos said. “I was part of the string ensemble throughout primary and in my early high school years. I joined a band with some friends and I took guitar performance as a VCE subject.”

Phillipos is in his second year as a junior doctor. “I had five rotations in 2019 - General Medicine, General Surgery, Aged Care and two Emergency rotations.”

The workload is significant and it is important to maintain a healthy attitude. “A typical day on the General Surgery unit started at 6:30am. It would start with a quick ward round where we see all our patients, before the senior doctors head off to theatre. The role of an intern is then to manage the ward, enact patient plans and deal with new issues that arise. You are also called to assist in theatre when required”.

20 | DE LA SALLE COLLEGE

“In the emergency department you see patients at the start of their journey, and get the chance to come up with a diagnosis and formulate plans, while still discussing all your thoughts and decisions with a senior doctor. You then refer to other specialties when required, and prepare patients for discharge or admission.”

“On medical rotations the patients are often quite complex with multiple medical issues, so ward rounds can go until the mid-afternoon, and then the rest of the day is made up of completing outstanding jobs from the round.”

“Being a young doctor comes with its challenges. Having to make decisions when you have limited clinical experience is difficult, however there is always support, and the skills and knowledge you gain in medical school stand you in good stead. Working with patients who are going through difficult circumstances can be emotionally taxing, so it’s important to have an outlet like music, as well as people you can debrief with. Regardless of the challenges, you soon realise you’re in a very privileged position.

The work is very rewarding and it’s humbling to have patients and their

families put their trust in you.”

After graduating from De La Salle, Phillipos completed a Bachelor of Science with an additional year of honours research, and then studied a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery. ”I worked sporadically throughout this time. I worked in a bank, a furniture store, a meat packing factory, and a candy buffet company. You could say my resume has a lot of variety.”

Initially, Phillipos was interested in Gastroenterology, however he really enjoyed his surgical rotation during internship. “This year I have taken more surgical rotations to help further consider surgery as a career.”

“De La Salle has left me with an extremely tight group of friends.

After graduation I wondered how long it would be until I lost touch with all but my closest friends, but it’s been a decade and I still keep in touch with so many of my classmates. I’m even better friends with some of them now than I was when I graduated.”

by Kerry Martin

HOPE FLIES HIGH

Hope flies high Nic Hope (1990) knew he wanted to be a pilot at a very young age. “When I was seven years old I went with my family on a trip to Europe. On the flight I got to visit to the flight deck of a Qantas 747 and from that moment on I knew that was for me.”

So when Nic started at the College, he rolled out his plan to reach his goal to fly. He studied Maths and Sciences and worked hard to be accepted into Engineering at Monash University, before realising that spending four years at university would only delay his dream.

“After I finished Year 12 I went to Monash University for a while but found this slowed down the learning to fly process.”

“I was also interested in the military and spent some time in the Air Force cadets, which I enjoyed, but this also made me realise that this was a roundabout way of getting the pilots position at Qantas.”

“Currently I am flying mainly domestic routes mixed with a little international.”

While at the College, Nic was a member of the ACC Swim Squad and recently he completed the Pier to Pub swim race in Lorne with his 12 year old daughter, Olivia who was waving as she sped past him.

“De La Salle taught me patience and persistence, that combined with some hard work and hopefully good things will come. You don’t need to be a rock star just put your head down and do what you do well”.

“The bonds that develop with your mates at school can be carried into adult life. I have helped many people and have had help in return. If you watch your mates back, they will watch yours. Having two daughters means unfortunately no more Hopes at DLS for the foreseeable future. The lessons learned there though have been instilled in my girls and will make

up their values and future generations of the Hope family.”

Nic lives in Malvern with his wife, Mel and daughters Olivia and Stella. Nic is a keen Richmond supporter and when he is not flying during the AFL season can be found at the MCG watching the Tigers.

by Kerry Martin

Motivated to get in the air as fast as he could, Nic decided to enrol in lessons.

“I learnt to fly at the Royal Victorian Aero Club at Moorabbin Airport.”

“Once I obtained my pilot’s licence I worked flying small and medium-sized aircraft around Australia.” Nic actually has four different pilot licences.

“In 2001, my boyhood dream came true when I secured a position as a Second Officer with Qantas.”

“My first flight as a Qantas pilot was special, realising a dream and exciting and satisfying to put the extensive Qantas training into practice and fly the Queen of the skies, the Boeing 747.”

“For the next 18 years I flew the Boeing 747, 737 and the Airbus 330.”

“Recently, I obtained a promotion to that of Captain. After successfully completing 11 weeks of very intensive training, I was issued with that fourth gold stripe, which was fantastic!”

LASALLIAN ROLL CALL MAY 2020 | 21

HAVING A BALL

Having a Ball When he was a student at the College, Jack Gray (2009) says that football ruled his life and as the AFL’s Lead for Player Engagement and Activation, he is proud to say it still does.

“Football pretty much ruled my life during my days at De La Salle.

I was constantly looking out for opportunities to play both at school at outside of school. I played with the Year 9 and Senior teams in Years 10 and 11, winning, ACC competitions two out of three years.”

After graduating, Gray completed a Diploma of Sport Development and worked in a variety of roles before landing his dream job in football.

“I had a few casual roles straight out of high school whilst trying to figure out the career path I wanted to take.

I did a bit of hospitality and retail work and a lot of manual work which kept me fit.”

“As is often the case, a personal contact, who worked at AFL House, helped me get a foot in the door and eventually I was lucky to make it through to a full time position.”

His current role as the Player Engagement and Activation Lead, sees him working with all AFL/ AFLW Clubs in conjunction with AFL state bodies on the CBA Player Appearances. Current CBA arrangements require all players to be available for 4-hour public appearances, 21 times throughout the year.

A typical day for Gray sees him attending internal meetings about upcoming projects and campaigns and responding to AFL Clubs and Player managers.

Developing young players is an important part of his job, and part of his role involves coordinating the young Auskick players on Grand Final day.

“On the day of the Grand Final, I have organised the Auskick players, including the half-time game and the presentation of the Premiership 22 | DE LA SALLE COLLEGE

Jack Gray with Daniel Calman-Orr (2003) at the MCG after the 2016 Grand Final.

medals to the premiership players after the game.”

year, has also represented the VAFA in their Under 21 game in Tasmania.

“This has become such an important part of the grand final celebrations and fans agree that the young kid’s presentation of medals after the game is a real highlight.” “Seeing the excitement on their faces running out to 100,000 screaming fans, is an experience you never forget.”

De La Salle has many legacies for me. “I still have so many friends that I’m regularly in contact with. I can’t say I was the most academic student, but I loved coming to school and interacting with all my mates and my teachers.”

For Gray being on the ground for the grand final celebrations is a definite career highlight.

“I have been at the last eight AFL Grand Finals and been out on the ground during the player celebrations, it’s a real highlight,” he said.

When he is not talking football he still plays for Williamstown CYMS, with which he has had a long and successful football career. In 2014, he was voted Division One Competition Best and Fairest after a consistent season for which his team also took out the flag. In the same

In spite of the delayed 2020 AFL season, Gray is busy working with the players making sure they can still engage with their fans.

by Kerry Martin

DE LA SALLE MOTHERS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE & OLD COLLEGIAN’S NEWS

De La Salle Mothers for Social Justice When it comes to MOFS, (Mothers of Former Students), Marie Grafen is well qualified. She has been attending MOFS functions for more than 45 years. Her four sons, Paul (1980) Christopher (1981), Damien (dec) (1983) and Kieran (1984) are Old Collegians. Her daughter, Marita, married Old Collegian, Alan Mercer (1989), and her grandson Giles Mercer is currently in Year 8. Giles’ younger brothers, Finian and Isaac will join him in the near future. During this time Marie, through her involvement in a social justice group, called the Mission Awareness Group, has raised more than $250,000 towards Lasallian mission projects around the world. In her own words, Marie has shared the work of the Group with our Roll Call readers. I’m sure, like me, you will be impressed by their efforts.

“In 1982, Br Hillary appealed to the Mother’s Auxiliary, as it was known then, for bandages to send to the Brother’s mission in Papua New Guinea. Mrs Philomena Docherty was the President of the Auxiliary at the time and she rallied some of the mothers together to meet the need. A group of us volunteered and we would meet regularly, initially at the Brother’s residence and later at my home.

We would meet and swap stories and share many laughs as we busily converted old sheets into hundreds if not thousands of bandages over the years. When Br Hillary retired, we

no longer had access to affordable freight and suddenly were confronted with mounting shipping costs, so we found ourselves evolving into a fund raising group to pay for the bandages to be sent to those in need. Our fund raising efforts centred mostly on film luncheons, which attracted many De La Salle mothers and other supportive folk. Over the years as the practicality of making and shipping bandages diminished we refocused our efforts on general fund raising for the Brother’s Missions around the world. The Luncheons proved enormously successful and over the years the Mission Action Group has been privileged to hear about the efforts of the Brothers outreach work caring for the most marginalised within Australia and in the developing world.

These efforts have strengthened our sense of being part of the wider De La Salle family as well as our bonds of friendship with each other. During this time we have watched our sons and now our grandsons sharing the same Lasallian tradition. The Group, though now slightly less in numbers, still continues to meet monthly and we welcome new members who may like to join us. Everyone is welcome.

Recently we were delighted to hear from Br Paul Toohey (1969) in PNG that our funds ($1,000) went towards installing bubble drinking taps at the school in Bomana. We are grateful to all the Brothers who have worked with us over the years. They have enriched our lives forever.”

If your son has attended the College you are warmly welcome to join other mothers at the annual MOFS functions. For further information please all Pam Leeding on 9508 2138.

Old Collegians’ Association I would like to acknowledge the loyalty and generosity of Old Collegian Tony McIlroy (1969) who has recently stepped down after several years as President of the Old Collegians Association. I must thank Tony on your behalf for his contribution and support. The role of Old Collegians’ President has been largely ceremonial, attending the many annual reunions as a representative of all Old Colls but we would like to give the position more prominence in a revamped Old Collegians Association.

As part of the College 2020 – 23 Strategic Plan we have committed to exploring how we may resurrect the Old Collegians Association and developing it into a more meaningful and inclusive association. We are at present canvassing ideas and looking at similar schools’ Old Colls’ organisations in an effort to create an association where past students of all generations can feel a connection and sense of belonging.

The plans are as yet in their infancy, but we would like to include as many areas of the community as we can – business, the arts, sport and the Catholic community. Keep an eye on future Roll Calls for more information and invitations for ideas and involvement.

Peter Houlihan Principal

LASALLIAN ROLL CALL MAY 2020 | 23

FROM THE ARCHIVES & A 70 YEAR FRIENDSHIP

From the Archives Just like today, during the 1920s and 30s, advertising was a popular method of recruiting students. Back then, De La Salle College was both a day school and a boarding school, and like its competitors, Rupertswood, St Patrick’s College, Ballarat and Assumption College, Kilmore, the College regularly advertised in The Advocate, the Catholic weekly newspaper.

Earlier this year, the College received a fine example of one of these advertisements. Published in The Advocate, the half-page advertisement mentioned the success of the graduating class.

Still in good condition, considering its age, the advertisement was

found by long-time College teacher, Mrs Georgina Dwyer, while she and her family were restoring an old homestead in Gippsland. The house had been vacant since the 1950s.

Mrs Dwyer said the old advertisement conjured up many notions of the family who once lived in the house. “I imagined that the former owners would have been local farmers, who like many during the depression worked hard to make ends meet.

“As readers of The Advocate, they most likely were Catholic and possibly struggling on the land.”

“It would have been a natural thing to recycle the newspaper as insulation under the linoleum in a child’s bedroom,” she said. “The photo in the advertisement shows part of the original building that

once stood where the gymnasium is now located. You can imagine our surprise when the old floor covering was removed revealing the old College advertisement.”

“Not only did The Advocate feed the souls of its readers it also helped to keep them warm during those Gippsland winters.”

Mrs Dwyer’s son Will, is currently in Year 11 at the College.

A 70 year friendship For the last 70 years, a group of Old Collegians have remained close friends and meet regularly to reflect on their days at the College. Terrence Gorman (1950), Bruce Merrett (1950), Fr Bren Donohue (1950), John (Darcy) Dugan (1950) and Frank Carroll (1950) make up the group. In this issue they share some of their recollections of life at the College.

In our Year 4 class there were five Johns, three Kevins and three Terrys.

The following year there were seven Johns and five Kevins. The Year 4 classroom was in an odd room at the rear of the handball courts, next to the tuckshop. We learnt our first songs in French and of course, the school war-cry. The first period was always Religion. The non-Catholics could come late. The library, at the South West corner of the Brothers’

From left to right: Terry Gorman, John “Darcy” Dugan, Gerry Gill, Fr Bren Donahue, Bruce Merritt, Kevin Busch and Principal Mr Peter Houlihan.

24 | DE LA SALLE COLLEGE

house, was closed for years, but I was intrigued by its paintings of old civilizations. Sport was compulsory every Wednesday afternoon, but first there were House meetings in the four ground floor classrooms. We sat on top of the desks and made a lot of noise as the teams were selected by the House Captains. Sport was at Kooyong or Glen Iris. I remember one Wednesday boys surging towards a tram – which kept going. After that there was always a special tram for us. Our final athletics meeting was at Malvern Oval. The cloakrooms under the stairs were inadequate, so coats were hung on the window fittings. If we heard a plane we all rushed to the windows to look. This was the only thing we could get away with. Matric was bliss. We had new caps with a blue and gold border running around the rim. The boys carried their caps in their bags and put them on when they came in sight of the school.

Terrence Gorman (1950) continues page 27.

NEW RECRUITS STRENGTHEN LINKS WITH COLLEGE

Old Collegians’ Amateur Football Club “Being able to link my work and footy is something I’ve really enjoyed so far,” he said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting players and the wider De La Salle community and can’t wait for what is to come.”

The links between the College and the De La Salle Old Collegians Amateur Football Club will be further strengthened this year with the Club signing up of two members of the College teaching staff.

Former Collingwood and West Coast defender Josh Smith and Best and Fairest University Blacks player, Thomas Chalkley, who both work at the College, will play with The Club in 2020.

Joining Smith on staff, Thomas Chalkley, commenced at the College this year in his first teaching role after graduating with his Masters in Teaching from ACU and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Melbourne. Chalkley teaches Maths, Chemistry, Religious Education and Sport.

Originally from Shepparton, Chalkley played for University Blacks in 2015 and 2016 and won the Under 19 Best and Fairest in 2015. “Across both seasons for the Blacks, Chalkley was a regular senior player in a strong Premier division team,” O’Callaghan said.

Club President Matthew O’Callaghan said the Club is absolutely delighted to welcome the two new players to the Club.

“The addition of the two new recruits will really boost our finals’ hopes,” O’Callaghan said.

“Smith and Chalkley are young and very talented and we are excited by the prospects of them joining our ranks.”

“At just 24 years of age, Chalkley’s arrival at the Club is a real asset,” O’Callaghan said.

“Smith made an eye-catching debut for Collingwood in 2016, kicking the first goal in the Anzac Day game and taking out the Harry Collier Trophy as the best first year player.”

“Chalkley distinguished himself playing for Mt Evelyn in the Eastern Districts Football League, gaining representative team honours.”

Smith, who hails from Queensland is described as a “running machine” with incredible aerobic capacity. He broke the Eagles 2 kilometre time trial record in 2019.

Joining the College’s Learning Support team this year, Smith said he was excited about being able to be part of the College and Club community.

“I am excited by the prospect of playing community footy,” Smith said.

David Madigan steps up as Senior’s Coach

“Being appointed Captain of the Mt Evelyn senior’s team, when he was just 22 years of age, is a testimony of Chalkley’s abilities.”

Chalkley said he had received a warm welcome into the De La Salle community. “I’m very excited to be back in the VAFA competition and play at such a proud club. I’ve really felt welcomed by the De La Salle community and can’t wait to run out with the team, when the Season resumes.”

Former De La Salle Senior Coach, David Madigan is back in charge of the Dees’ senior side for Season 2020. Madigan, who was also a long-time teacher at the College, had been in the assistant coach role but with the departure of senior coach Peter Schwab, Madigan will step into the role.

Club President Matthew O’Callaghan said Madigan is well known at the Club and he brings a breadth of coaching experience.

“Madigan is a highly experienced senior coach and since returning to the Club in September has been at the coalface of our 2020 preparation,” O’Callaghan said. “With the support of our coaches, we believe that he can deliver on our expectations.” https://delasalleocfc.com.au/ membership-packages/

by Kerry Martin

LASALLIAN ROLL CALL MAY 2020 | 25

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Where Are They Now? Ashton Agar (2011) became just the second Australian to take a men’s T20 international hat-trick in the T20I series opener in Johannesburg recently.

Ashton was the first player ever to score a half-century as a number eleven batsman on debut. Ashton recently announced his engagement to Madeline Hay. The couple will marry in April next year.

Jarryd Lyons (2010) has been selected for the leadership group of the Brisbane Lions for 2020.

His younger brother Corey (2016) also plays for the Brisbane Lions.

Lorenzo Montesini (1964) on a recent visit to Cairo met with Major General Atef Moftah, who is coordinating the completion of the Grand Egyptian Museum on the Giza plateau next door to the Pyramids.

The new museum is due to open at the end of 2020.

Jack Sharry (2014) has taken up a position as Account Manager at Nunn Media.

Wes Agar (2014) was awarded the 2020 Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year at the recent Australian Cricket Awards.

Awards.

Will Agar (2013) completed a Bachelor of Commerce at Deakin and now works at Sportsbet as a racing trader in analytical risk and trade for US and Australian sports teams.

Tom McCausland (2014) participated in the Melbourne Performance Centre and the Audi Sport customer Racing Team for the Bathurst 12 Hour.

26 | DE LA SALLE COLLEGE

Dan Giovannoni’s (2004) play SLAP. BANG. KISS, has been selected for the 2020 VCE Drama and Theatre Studies playlist. The play, which will be staged across Victoria by the Melbourne Theatre Company, follows the story of three teenagers who attract worldwide attention after performing seemingly insignificant actions, and become instigators and symbols of social change. The protagonists tell their stories in a fast-moving style of direct address, self-narration and short, sharp scenes in which the performers play a range of characters.

Sebastian Gotch (2011) made his second successive century for Victoria in the recent Sheffield Shield match against Queensland at the Gabba.

Gotch made his List A debut for Cricket Australia XI in October 2015 in the 2015–16 Matador BBQs One-Day Cup and his debut in the 2016–17 Big Bash League season for the Melbourne Stars in January 2017. He made his first-class debut for Victoria in the 2016–17 Sheffield Shield season on 25 February 2017.

Lewis Martin (1981) attended the inaugural Movers and Shakers Luncheon at La Ciel in Cremorne.

Martin is the Managing Director of Channel Seven. We will bring you an interview with him in our September issue.

Joshua Williams (2011) married Caitlin Wood on 12 April 2019 at Poet’s Lane Receptions, Sherbrooke.

Ethan Rock (2011) was Joshua’s Best Man.

The Hon G Tony Pagone QC (1972) has been appointed as an additional Commissioner to Federal Government’s the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

Matt Tyler (2001) is Executive Director of the Men’s Project at Jesuit Social Services working with a team committed to providing leadership on the reduction of violence and other harmful behaviors prevalent among boys and men.

2020 COLLEGE REUNIONS & REST IN PEACE

Anthony Rea (1985) has taken up a new role in Switzerland, as the head of the Bureau of Meteorology’s Infrastructure Department. The Department has responsibility for the global coordination of meteorological, climate and water observations and also the exchange of forecast and analysis data to assist WMO member countries in delivering services to their people.

We will bring you an interview with Rea in our September issue.

FROM THE EDITOR Continued from page 2.

These men have enriched our lives through their distinguished accomplishments in literature and music. It took some time to make contact with the renowned, and reclusive Gerald Murnane (1956), whose substantial body of prose has earned him a nomination for the Nobel Prize for Literature. Another celebrated Old Collegian, pianist Geoffrey Tozer (1971), who sadly is no longer with us, has been prominent of late following the release of the biographical film The Eulogy. It is an honour to feature them both in this issue, my 30th as Editor. With the outbreak of the Coronavirus, the College had to postpone the 50 Year Reunion and the Mother’s Day Breakfast, which we would normally feature in our May issue. A list of the year’s Reunions are on page 27, however we anticipate further disruptions due to COVID-19, so keep an eye out for communications from our Alumni office. Enjoy the read.

By Kerry Martin

A 70 YEAR FRIENDSHIP Continued from page 24.

My move from St Ignatius Richmond to De La Salle, Malvern was a big change. I travelled to school by tram rather than a long walk through Tigerland; classmates came from different socioeconomic backgrounds and we had specialised teachers for different subjects. The talented Br Paul’s interpretation of Macbeth made “the Bard’s” play so memorable. After I graduated, I studied Psychology and Commerce at Melbourne.

This led me into varied careers in Canada, UK and Australia. Among them, I worked as a tax assessor, a lumberjack, bank manager, and TV technician for CBC Toronto and GTV9 Melbourne, a mail order clerk at Fortnum and Mason in London and the Business and Property Manager for Melbourne Airport.

Bruce Merrett (1950) When classmate, Eric D’Arcy (1941) (dec), became a philosopher at the University of Melbourne, he told his students there are two types of memory: one is when you pick up pen and paper to recall your school days and fill in the details as they gradually come to mind; the other is when you bend down to do up your shoe lace and remember your grandmother. That’s how memory works. My recollections of the College are of warm-coloured bricks, the spaces, and the assembly line, the location of the tuck shop, the horizontal bar, and the hand ball courts where Br Joseph held his own against the best. I can see Gerald Egan taking marks in a pack and kicking the ball the full-length of the yard. Br Oswald said Gerald was the best he had seen. And in the nets at the other end John Ledwich is exposing our weakness against his speed. I can see the class rooms, the Brothers’ residence and the chapel. We enjoyed having the Brothers in the class room, round the school and the sporting fields.

I can still hear ‘little Br Joseph’

urging us to ‘strive’ always to live the faith. It sounds to me now like St Paul. The horizontal bar and history kept us sane and filled the well of memory. As did Mass at St Joseph’s: Eric D’Arcy recalled that in the class room, Br Jerome would not take the next step until every student had caught up.

While school identity was strong and something to be proud of, individual lives were important.

Because I met his cousin recently, I think of Francis Mahony (1931) whose name I remember listed on a war memorial inside the College front gate. When his commercial ship, the Peking, was sunk by a German U-Boat, the survivors were taken by a Japanese boat to Tokyo. Having survived four years in a POW camp, he was killed by American bombs a week before the end of the Pacific war.

He had volunteered to take the place of a married man who had been deployed to work on a wharf which was an American target.

Frank knew the risk and was killed.

Perhaps he is just another of the uncanonized De La saints.

Fr Bren Donohue (1950)

2020 College Reunions 20 Year (2000) Friday 24 July 10 Year (2010) Friday 4 September 5 Year (2015) Friday 23 October MOFS 7 Wednesday October Details of times and venues will be emailed prior to the date.

Please note: 40 and 30 Year Reunions will not proceed as scheduled due to Covid-19.

Rest In Peace John Gill Brian Delaney Wallace Meehan Peter Compton Alan Taylor Ronald Flynn Anthony Moore

1947 1953 1955 1956 1956 1959 1977

LASALLIAN ROLL CALL MAY 2020 | 27

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